EPA Holding January Hearings Pushing for More Energy Regulations

EPA Holding January Hearings Pushing for More Energy Regulations by John Block, Pinon Post

On January 10th through the 12th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be holding hearings to implement new policies aimed at “reducing emissions of methane and other … air pollution from both new and existing oil and gas operations” by “adding proposed requirements for sources not previously covered.”

New Mexico “climate change” supporters are lining up to testify in support of the anti-energy proposal, with claims that more regulation on private oil and gas will help save the planet.

“Melissa Hornbein, senior attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center, said to Kiowa County Press that the anti-energy rules will be “a step in improving a draft rule issued by the EPA last year.” Hornbein noted how the rules will be “primarily targeted at reducing venting and flaring.”

Four Corners-area resident Don Schreiber claimed in the report that “the extraction industry shouldn’t be allowed to continue self-reporting on its methane waste – which he described as the ‘fox guarding the henhouse,’ because the true value of royalties owed to the state remain unknown.”

The 288-page “emissions guidelines” text of the rule includes the word “emissions” 730 times.

The proposal would “limit the use of flares for eliminating venting of associated gas from oil wells. The supplemental proposal would require owners or operators to route associated gas to a sales line, use the gas for fuel or another beneficial purpose, or reinject it into a well for enhanced oil recovery.

While the November proposal also would have allowed owners and operators to route associated gas to a flare that reduces methane and VOC by 95 percent, the supplemental proposal would allow flaring of the gas only if the owner or operator submits a demonstration, certified by a professional engineer or other qualified individual, that a sales line is not available and other beneficial uses are not feasible for technical or safety reasons.”

For more information visit: www.epa.gov/system/files/ documents/2022-11/EPA%27s%20Oil%20and%20 Natural%20Gas%20Supplemental%20Proposal. How%20to%20Comment.pdf ▫